Method end and apparatus for producing a product-filled container

A method for manufacturing a container filled with a product, the container comprising a substantially tubular body portion of thin-walled plastic or laminated plastic material having a first end and a second end, and a butt-weldable end-piece at said first end of said body portion, the method comprising the steps of:

• fitting said butt-weldable end-piece to said first end of said body portion;
• placing the product into the container through said first end of said body portion;
• placing said butt-weldable end-piece adjacent said first end of said body portion;
• applying heat to at least a portion of said butt-weldable end-piece to soften the plastic material thereof;
• evacuating air present within the container between the product placed therein and said butt-weldable end-piece through an opening in said butt-weldable end-piece;
• pressing said butt-weldable end-piece into said body portion to a terminal position between said first end and said second end thereof by means of relative displacement between said butt-weldable end-piece and said body portion during said evacuation of air through the opening in said butt-weldable end-piece;
• and
• applying heat to the opening in said butt-weldable end-piece to seal the opening.

A device for butt-welding an end-piece having a substantially cylindrical wall region to a substantially tubular body portion of thin-walled plastic or laminated plastic material to form a container, said device comprising:

• application means for placing said end-piece in a defined intermediate position, partially projecting into an end of the tubular body portion;
• heating means for supplying warm gas to soften the plastic material of a weld region of the body portion and a region or regions of an outwardly projecting portion of the end-piece;
• means for displacing the body portion and the end-piece relative to each other until the end-piece is in its terminal position in the body portion;
• and
• suction means for evacuating utilized warm air from the weld region and excess air from the container via an evacuation nipple in the end-piece.